Grain-drill.



C. L. FOWLE. GRAIN DRILL. wrucmou FILED NOV. 30. m4.

1,21 1,929. Patented Jan. 9,1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

G/rar/es L. fZw/e C. L. FOWLE.

GRAIN DRILL.

APPLICATION mm NOV. 30. 1914.

Patented Jan. 9,1917.

4 SHEETS5HEET 2- G/mr/es [1. F0 w/e WM?" eooeo Wig C. L. FOWLE.

GRAIN DRILL. AvPucATmN FILED NOV. 30. mu.

1,21 1,929. Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

4 $HEET-SEET 3- imam,

C. L. FDWLE.

GRAIN DRILL.

APPLICATION men NOV. 30, I914.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A" f- I 7 i 0 M U m a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. FOWLE, OF DOWAGIAC, MICHIGAN.

GRAIN-DRILL,

Application filed November 30, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GIL-\ltLl-ZS l Fowm-z, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dowagiac, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (iraiir Drills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in grain drills.

My lllllJl'OYQlllGIltS relate particularly to grain drills of the one-horse type especially designed for use in drilling between rows of standing corn although desirable for use in other relations.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an improved tongueless grain drill which may be effectively and easily steered or guided. Second. to provide an improved grain drill which may be turned in a very small space as at the ends ofsrows. Third, to provide an improved grain drill adapted for use in drilling between rows of corn or the like of varying width. Fourth, to provide an improved grain drill having these advantages which is comparatively simple in structure and very strong and durable.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a front perspective view of a structure embodying the features of my invention. Fig. II is a rear perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. I. Fig. III is a detail view, partially in section, on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig. II, showing details of the driving means for the feed mechanism. Fig. IV is a detail plan view of the front end of the frame. Fig. V is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. I, showing details of the mounting of the outer draw bars. Fig. V I is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 66 of Fig. IV. Fig. VII is a detail section on a line corresponding to the broken line 77 of Fig. IV, showing details of the frame. Fig. VIII is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

Serial No. 874,880.

a detail section on a line corresponding to line 8-6 of Fig. IV, showing further details of the frame. Fig. IX is a side perspective view of one of the furrow openers and its draw bar and boot. Fig. X is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 1010 of Fig. l\". showing means for limiting the swing of the outer draw bars. Fig. XI is a perspective view of the casting 3. Fig. X11 is a detail horizontal section of the double disk central furrow opener, parts being shown by dotted lines.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the frame, in the structure illustrated, is constructed of metal and comprises side bars 1 having converging portions 2 at their forward ends. The forward ends of the bars 2 are secured to the bracket or casting 3 by the bolt 3 and are clamped upon the shoulders 3" of the casting by the curved bolt 3". The rear ends of the side members 1 are turned downwardly at 4. and provided with bearings 5 for the rear axle G which constitutes the driving shaft of the machine. The rear wheels 7 are connected to the axle through ratchet mechanisms designated generally by the numeral 8. As the details of the ratchet mechanisms form no part of this invention and suitable ratchet mechanisms are well known in this art, I do not further describe the same herein.

At the front of the frame is a caster wheel 9, the spindle 10 of which is disposed in the bearing 10 of the frame bracket or casting 3. The forks 11 of the spindle are curved rearwardly so that the draft brings the caster wheel to a central position.

The central furrow opener 12 is of the double disk type, while the outer furrow openers 13 and the intermediate furrow openers 14 are of the concavo-convex disk type and are disposed with their concave sides inwardly and are arranged in an outwardly inclined position relative to the line of draft. The outer furrow openers 13 are arranged on the outside of the main frame, their draft bars 15 being also arranged on the outside of the frame. The draft bars 15 have converging portions 16 at their front ends and are carried by the coupling members 17 mounted on the vertical pivots 18 carried by the member 3, thus supporting the outer furrow openers for lateral swinging movement. To permit vertical swinging movement of the draw bars 15 they are pivoted at 1.9 to the member 1?, their pivotal movement being limited by the bolts 20 engaging the slots 21. The outward swinging movement of these outer draw bars is limited by the chains 2:? connected to the eye 23 on the central longitudinal frame bar 24:, the front end of which is secured by the bolt 25 to the member 3 and the rear end of which is secured to the transverse frame piece 26. The chains are adjustahly secured to the converging portions 16 of the draft bars by means of the clips 27.

The furrow openers 1.3 and 'l -lare provided with draw bars 28 and 29 respectively which are pivotally mounted on the transverse draft rod 30. This draft rod is supported at its ends by the socket member 31 on the side members of the frame and is secured to the longitudinal central bar 24 by the clip 32 which also holds the thrust collar for the central draw bar 28.

The collars 34 for the draw bars 29 are adjustably mounted on the draft rod, being secured in their adjusted positions thereon by the set screws By this means the intermediate furrow openers may be properly adjusted to secure the desired spacing with the outer furrow openers. The boots 36 are carried by the brackets 37 extending rearwardly from the furrow opener bearings. Suitable scrapers. as 38, are provided. The seed tubes 89 deliver from the feed mechanism to the boots. Any suitable feed mechanism may be used and as the details form no part of my present invention 1- do not illustrate or describe the same herein.

The furrow openers are provided with pressure springs 40 mounted on the supporting rods 41, the lower ends of which are secured to the boots by the bolts 42, the upper ends of which pass through collars 43 carried by the arms 44 on the rock shaft 45. The upper ends of the springs bear against these collars so that by adjustingthe rock shaft the pressure of the springs is regulated. The rock shaft is controlled by the lever 46.

The pressure springs and the seed tube for the outer furrow openers are arranged on the outside of the main frame. The feed mechanism is driven through the sprocket chains 47 and 48 and the sprockets 49 on the driving shaft or axle 6. These sprockets 49 are mounted for longitudinal movement on the axle 6 and are provided with clutch members 50 on their outer sides enacting with the clutch members 51 secured to the axle by the set screws 52. The clutches are held yieldingly in engagement by the coiled spring 53 arranged between the wheels 49 so as to act on both of them. The clutches are disengaged by means of the wedge shaped yokcs 5st slidably mounted at 5-3. \Vhen these clutch releasing yokes are pushed downward the wedges separate the clutch members, thus stopping the driving of the driving sprockets.

To prevent weeds or trash winding into the clutches of the driving chains, 1 provide a. guard board which is supported by the arms 57 in front of the axle and the lower ends of the driving chains.

A platform 58 is provided and preferably has a box 59 which may be loaded for weighting the machine if desired.

At the rear end of the machine on each side I provide a handle (50, the handle being mounted on the side members of the frame to project rearwardlv beyond the axle so as to be conveniently grasped by the operator walking behind the machine. The handles are provided with guards 61 for their hand pieces 62.

The seed box is mounted on the brackets (14 and 65 and is braced in front of the braces (56 extending to an upwardly projectingarm 67 on the frame member 3. The draft clevis (i8 is secured to this arm.

The furrow openers are provided with covering chains 69.

To guard the outer disks and prevent their traveling into the hills of corn I provide guards 70 which are mounted on the outer d aft bars to extend downwardly and rearwardly on the outer sides of the outer disks as shown. To guard the seed tubes and pressure springs for the outer disks 1 provide upwardly projecting guard arms 71 which are mounted on the rear ends of the draft bars to extend upwardly in front of the seed tubes. The outer furrow openers are free for independent lateral and vertical movement This allows them to pass a hill of corn and to play up and down independently of the other furrow openers and of each other. As the ground is likely to be rigid somewhat along the rows of corn this independent movement is of great advanta ge. It is also of decided advantage in the steering of the machine.

With the parts thus arranged my inr proved grain drill can be very conveniently steered without the use of a tongue or thills. The steering is preferably accomplished by downward pressure on the handle on the side toward which it is desired to swing the machine. This causes the furrow openers on that side to plow more deeply and swings the machine toward that side. The machine responds very quickly in steering and can be steered when manipulated in this way with little effort. The arrangement of the outer disks tends to swing them outward so that they, under normal conditions, travel at their outer limits. but the structure is sensitive so that the outer bars are readily swung inward in passing a. hill of grain. The machine is also very desirable in that it can be turned in very short spaces, thus enabling the turning from one corn row into the. adjacent row without headlands and with little effort on the part of the. operator as the machine will swing in a circle with one wheel adapted as a pi ot wheel.

I have illustrated and described my iinprovements in detail in the form in which the same has been embodied for the market. I have not attenipted to illustrate or de scribe various n'iodificatimis and embodiments which I contemplate as being perhaps desirable under certain conditions, as I believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art lo which my invenlion relates to enibodv or adapt the same as conditions may remiire. I desire. however, to be understood as claiming m v improve ments specifically in the form illustrated as well as broadly within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a grain drill, the combination of a frame comprising side members converged at thcirf'front ends. an axle at the rear end of said=. frame, wheels on said axle. a caster wheel disposed centrally at the front end of said frame, a rcarwardly projecting handle at-each side of the rear end of said frame,fa double disk central furrow opener, concave-convex furrow openers at each side of said central furrow opener disposed with their concave sides inwardly and inclined outwardly to the line of draft, the outer furrow openers being arranged on the outside of said frame side members, draw bars for the outer furrow openers having converging front ends arranged on the outside of said frame side members, said outer draw bars being pivotally mounted for lateral swinging movement to the front end of said frame, chains for limiting the outward swing of said outer draw bars adjustably connected to the converging portions thereof, a transverse draft rod, draw bars for the central and intermediate furrow openers mounted on said draft rod. the draw bars of the intermediate furrow openers being mounted for lateral adjustment on said draft rod, guards mounted on the outer draw bars to extend downwardly and rearwardlv therefrom at the outer sides of the outer furrow openers, boots and seed tubes, pressure springs for said furrow openers, the seed tubes and pressure springs for the outer furrow openers being arranged on the mter side of said side frame members. and guards mounted on said outer draw bars to irojcct upwardly therefron'i in front of the cod tubes and pressure spring of the outer urrow Openers.

3. In a grain drill, the combination of a lran'ic comprising side members converged at their front ends, an axle at the rear end of said frame, wheels on said axle, a caster wheel disposed centrally at the front end of said frame, a rearwardly projecting handle at each side of the rear end of said frame, a double disk central furrow opener, concaveconvex furrow openers at each side of said central furrow opener disposed with their concave sides inwardly and inclined outwardly to the line of draft, the outer furrow openers being arranged on the outside of said frame sidc members, draw bars for the outer furrow openers having converging front ends arranged on the outside of said frame side members, said outer draw bars being pivotally mounted for lateral and verlienl wringing movement to the front end of said frame. chains for limiting the outward swing of said outer draw bars adjustably connected to the converging portions thereof, a transverse draft rod, draw bars for the central and intermediate furrow openers mounted on said draft rod, the draw bars of the intermediate furrow openers being mounted for lateral adjustment on said draft rod.

3. In a grain drill, the combination of a frame comprising side members converged at their front ends, an axle at the rear end of said frame, wheels on said axle, a caster wheel disposed centrally at the front end of said frame, a rcarwardly projecting handle at each side of the rear end of said frame, a double disk central furrow opener, con- :avoconvex furrow openers at each side of said central furrow opener disposed with their concave sides inwardly and inclined outwardly to the line of draft, the outer furrow openers being arranged on the outside of said frame side members, draw bars for the outer furrow openers having converging front ends arranged on the outside of said frame side members, said outer draw bars being pivotally mounted for lateral swinging movement to the front end of said frame, a transverse draft rod, draw bars for the central and intermediate furrow openers mounted on said draft rod, guards mounted on the outer draw bars to extend downwardly and rearwardly therefrom at the outer sides of the outer furrow openers, boots and seed tubes, pressure springs for said furrow openers, the seed tubes and pressure springs for the outer furrow openers being arranged on the outer side of said side frame members, and guards mounted on said outer draw bars to project upwardly therefrom in front of the seed tubes and pressure spring of the outer furrow openers.

4. In a tongneless dirigible grain drill, the combination of a frame comprising side members converged at their front ends, an axle at the rear and of said frame, wheels on said axle, a caster wheel disposed centrally at the front end of said,f1'a1ne,a double disk central furrow opener, concave-convex furrow openers at each side of said central furrow opener disposed with their concave sides inwardly and inclined outwardly to the line of draft, the outer furrow openers being arranged on the outside of said frame side members, draw bars for the outer furrow openers having converging front ends arranged on the outside of said frame side members, said outer draw bars being pivotally mounted for limited lateral and vertical swinging movement to the front end of said frame, a transverse draft rod, draw bars for the central and intermediate furrow openers mounted on said draft rod and a handle secured to each side of said frame to project rearwardly therefrom and by means of which pressure may be applied to either side, all coacting for the purpose specified.

5. In a grain drill, the combination of a frame, a pair of carrying \vheels at the rear end of said frame, a caster wheel disposed centrally at the front end of said frame, a handle at each side of the rear end of said frame, a double disk central furrow opener, concavo-convex furrow openers at each side of said central furrow opener disposed with their concave sides inwardly and inclined outwardly to the line of draft, draw bars for the outer furrow openers pivotally mounted for lateral swinging movement, means for limiting the swing of said outer draw; bars, draw bars for the central and intermediate furrow openers, the draw bars of the intermediate furrow openers being mounted for lateral adjustment, guards mounted on the outer draw bars to extend downwardly and rearwardly therefrom at the outer sides of the outer furrow openers, boots and seed tubes, pressure springs for said furrow openers, the seed tubes and pressure springs for the outer furrow openers being arranged on the outer side of said frame, and guards mounted on said outer draw bars to project upwardly therefrom in front of the seed tubes and pressure spring of the outer furrow openers.

6. In a grain drill, the combination of a frame, a pair of carrying wheels at the rear end of said frame, a caster wheel disposed centrally at the front end of said frame, a handle at each side of the rear end of said frame, a central furrow opener, concavoconvex furrow openers at each side of said central furrow opener disposed with their concave sides inwardly and inclined outwardly to the line of draft, draw bars for said furrow openers, the draw bars for the outer furrow openers being mounted for lateral swinging movement, guards mounted on the outer draw bars to extend downwardly and rearwardly therefrom at the outer sides of the outer furrow openers,

boots and seed tubes, pressure springs for said furrow openers, the seed tubes and pres sure springs for the outer furrow openers being arranged on the outer side of said frame, and guards mounted on said outer draw bars to project upwardly therefrom in front of the seed tubes and pressure spring of the outer furrow openers.

7. In a tongueless dirigible grain drill, the combination of a frame, a pair of car ying wheels at the rear end of said frame, a caster wheel disposed centrally at the front end of said frame, a central furrow opener, concave-convex furrow openers at each side of said central furrow opener disposed with their concave sides inwardly and inclined outwardly to the line of draft, draw bars for said furrow openers, the draw bars for the outer furrow openers being mounted for lateral swinging movement, a central draft connection at the front end of said frame and a handle secured to each side of said frame to project rearwardly therefrom and by means of which pressure may be applied to either side, all coacting for the purpose specified.

8. In a grain drill, the combination of a frame comprising side members converged at their front ends, a pair of carrying wheels at the rear end of said frame, a caster wheel disposed centrally at the front end of said frame, furrow openers, draw bars for the outer furrow openers having converging front ends arranged on the outer side of said frame side members and pivotally mounted at the front ends thereof for lateral swinging movement, a chain for limiting the outward swing of said draw bars adjustably connected to the converging portions thereof, guards mounted on the outer dra'w bars to extend downwardly and rearwardly therefrom at the outer sides of the outer furrow openers, boots and seed tubes,

pressure springs for said furrow openers,

the seed tubes and pressure springs for the outer furrow openers being arranged on the outer side of said frame, and guards mounted on said outer draw bars to project upwardly therefrom in front of the seed tubes and pressure spring of the outer fur- I row openers.

9. In a tongueless dirigible grain drill, the combination of a frame, a pair of carrying wheels at the rear end of said frame, a caster wheel disposed centrally at the front end of said frame, a handle at each side of the rear end of said frame, a double convex central furrow opener, concave-convex furrow openers at each side of said central furrow opener disposed with their concave sides inwardly and inclined outwardly to the line of draft, draw bars for said furrow openers, and a handle secured to each side of said frame to project rearwardly therefron and by means-of which pressure may be ap ing wheels of sand frame, it

end of said frame, furrow wardly furrow peners, the outer disks inclined outpurpose Specified.

11. A grain drill comprising an axle constituting a driving shaft, carrying Wheels having ratchet connections with said axle, a pair of driving sprockets rotatably mounted on said axle and adapted for longitudinal. movement thereon, clutch members on the outer sides of said driving sprockets, a coiled spring arranged on said axle between said driving sprockets to act thereon, and Wedgeshaped slidably supported clutch shifting yokes disposed between said driving sprockets and said clutch members on said axle.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. FOWLE. [L. s.] l'Vitnessesr W. BILLS Eva BURK copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

